Assembly Committees To Weigh Fair Debt Collection, Medical Errors. Expanding Transit Hub Tax Credit

Panels Will Also Consider Regulating Bank Cards, N.J. College Savings Program

Assembly committees Thursday will consider legislation to combat harassing debt collection practices, require the state to publicly report hospital medical errors and expand a tax credit program designed to lure development to urban transit hubs.

Legislation (A-2493) sponsored by Assemblymen John J. Burzichelli, Matthew W. Milam and Wayne P. DeAngelo to combat harassing consumer debt collection practices will be considered by the Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee.

The “New Jersey Fair Debt Collection Practices Act” would give consumers a way to dispute and verify debt information to ensure its accuracy and set penalties for abusive debt collectors.

“This is a fairness bill for consumers, one that will ensure they’re not harassed by unscrupulous debt collectors,” said Burzichelli (D-Gloucester). “It will create guidelines under which debt collectors may conduct business, define rights of consumers involved with debt collectors and prescribe penalties and remedies for violations.”

“We’re not looking to halt efforts to try to collect a debt,” said Milam (D-Atlantic/Cape May/Cumberland). “What we’re doing here is putting a stop to harassing, oppressing, intimidating and abusive conduct by those collecting debts.”

“This is consumer protection legislation meant to ensure debt collectors operate in a professional and courteous fashion and are not using unfair or unconscionable means,” said DeAngelo (D-Mercer/Middlesex). “Debt collectors using false, deceptive or misleading representations will be held accountable.”

The committee will also consider legislation (A-2449) sponsored by Assemblywoman Connie Wagner (D-Bergen) to include prepaid bank cards into the existing law regulating the expiration dates and dormancy fees for gift cards and certificates. “These prepaid bank cards are becoming more and more popular, but are exempt from laws protecting consumers from unreasonable expiration dates and hidden fees,” Wagner said. “This is a common sense step forward that keeps consumer protections consistent and strong.”

The Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee will consider legislation (A-1264/A-3371/A-3633) that would require the state to publicly report medical errors on a hospital-by-hospital basis and prohibit physicians and hospitals from charging patients for certain medical errors.

“When preventable medical mistakes occur, doctors should not be rewarded,” said sponsor Assemblyman Paul Moriarty (D-Gloucester). “Denying payment for these types of errors will send a message loud and clear: when dealing with matters of life and death we will not tolerate any margin of error.”

The committee will also consider legislation (A-137) sponsored by Assemblyman Ruben J. Ramos Jr. (D-Hudson) and Assemblywoman Celeste Riley (D-Cumberland) that would provide for automatic enrollment in one of two state-funded prescription drug assistance programs for low-income senior citizens.

The Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee will consider a measure sponsored by Assemblymen Albert Coutinho (D-Essex), Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer) and John Wisniewski (D-Middlesex) and Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts Jr. (D-Camden) to expand eligibility for the state’s Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit program.

The Assembly Higher Education Committee will receive testimony from Michael Angulo, executive director of the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, concerning the New Jersey Better Educational Savings Trust Program, or NJBEST.

To view committee agenda please visit http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislativepub/legcal.asp.